Physiology and Pharmacology Publications
Proteinase-activated receptor 4 activation triggers cell membrane blebbing through RhoA and β-arrestin
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2020
Journal
Molecular Pharmacology
Volume
97
Issue
6
First Page
365
Last Page
376
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1124/MOL.119.118232
Abstract
Copyright © 2020 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Proteinase-activated receptors (PARs) are a four-member family of G-protein-coupled receptors that are activated via proteolysis. PAR4 is a member of this family that is cleaved and activated by serine proteinases such as thrombin, trypsin, and cathepsinG. PAR4 is expressed in a variety of tissues and cell types, including platelets, vascular smooth muscle cells, and neuronal cells. In studying PAR4 signaling and trafficking, we observed dynamic changes in the cell membrane, with spherical membrane protrusions that resemble plasma membrane blebbing. Since nonapoptotic membrane blebbing is now recognized as an important regulator of cell migration, cancer cell invasion, and vesicular content release, we sought to elucidate the signaling pathway downstream of PAR4 activation that leads to such events. Using a combination of pharmacological inhibition and CRISPR/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9)-mediated gene editing approaches, we establish that PAR4-dependent membrane blebbing occurs independently of the Gaq/11- and Gai-signaling pathways and is dependent on signaling via the b-arrestin-1/2 and Ras homolog family member A (RhoA) signaling pathways. Together these studies provide further mechanistic insight into PAR4 regulation of cellular function.